Birthday banners across Pune despite Ajit Pawar's warning

A few days ago, Pawar announced that criminal action would be initiated against anyone putting up unauthorized flex boards in the city, but that seems to have failed to deter his enthusiastic supporters.u00a0

On deaf ears: A few days ago, Ajit Pawar announced that criminal action would be initiated against anyone putting up unauthorised flex boards.

When questioned about how many of these hoardings had been removed, the head of the encroachment department of the PMC and the zonal commissioner were evasive. MLA Laxman Jagtap's photograph was on one such hoarding in Wakad, which comes under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. u00a0"I didn't know that my photo had been used on the hoardings. The persons who displayed these hoardings didn't take my permission before doing so, Jagtap said. u00a0Similar banners were out in Pimpri, and surprisingly Pimpri-Chinchwad NCP president Yogesh Bahal was in the know that his photograph was being used.u00a0

"I am well aware that my photo is being used on banners wishing dada on his birthday. All the banners were legal and we spent a huge amount of money for that purpose," Bahal said. u00a0He added that he ordered party workers to remove any illegal hoardings that were being displayed, but supported those legally on display. u00a0Banners were mainly displayed in Shivaji Nagar, Deccan Gymkhana, Kothrud and Juna Bazaar areas of the city. When Ramesh Shelar, head of the encroachment department of PMC was questioned, he said that he was on leave yesterday and the PMC zonal commissioner should be asked about thematter.u00a0

Zonal Commissioner Vijay Dahibhate also replied saying that he was not on duty yesterday. A close aide of Pawar said that action would be taken against those party workers who displayed illegal hoardings. u00a0"Dada made the announcement of taking action against illegal hoardings and therefore action will be taken, but only against those who displayed hoardings without permission from the municipal corporation," said the source. u00a0